STAND. COM. REP. NO.  955-18

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2018

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2470

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2470, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to require state and county agencies with regulatory jurisdiction over environmental protection matters to adopt and maintain rules pertaining to environmental protection, air quality, water supplies, water quality, and drinking water that are as stringent as, or more stringent than, applicable baseline federal standards in existence on or before January 1, 2017; provided that changes to the definition of "waters of the United States" made by the federal Clean Water Rule as published on June 29, 2015, and currently subject to judicial review and stay of enforcement shall not be applicable as baseline federal standards.

 

     The Sierra Club of Hawaii, Blue Planet Foundation, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and two concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Hawaii Farm Bureau opposed this measure.  The Department of Health and Honolulu Board of Water Supply provided comments.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2470, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair